"Dating is pressure and tension. What is a date, really, but a job interview that lasts all night?"- Jerry Seinfeld

Any of you ever feel that way? Dating before having my daughter was one thing, but it's so much harder now.

The bottom line is, I don't want men in and out of her life. I'll already be paying for enough therapy just for her being an only child of a single mom as well as the racial differences! I don't need to add more drama to her life!

I keep thinking I'm choosing someone better than the last one, but in the end they all seem similar. When it comes to the end of your relationship with a person, does anyone else hear Dr. Phil say something like, "If you throw enough rocks up in the air, eventually one of
them is going to hit you on the head.”??? (I don't even know what that means!) Am I the only one hearing he good doctor? Maybe I'm a little crazy....

I just recently ended the third somewhat serious relationship I've had in the past 9 years. As my daughter gets older, it's getting even harder to date and explain why things don't always work out, especially when she really likes him, like the last one.

How do you handle this with your kids? My immediate jerk reaction is to stop dating all together and just focus on her and I until she is in high school and doesn't even want to spend time with me any more. But is this realistic?

Of course I've been searching blogs for any answers to these questions from other single parents. I've discovered there is no real concrete answer. Every circumstance is different, as is how each child may handle it. I was disappointed there was no cut and dry answer.

However, after reflecting a bit, I did discover a silver lining..... I'm not alone. Single parents everywhere are doing the best they can just as I am. One. day. at. a. time.

And that is comforting....

Now, if anyone would like to contribute to Grace's future therapy fund, please email me directly! :)

"Before you try to keep up with the Joneses, be sure they're not trying to keep up with you." - Erma Bombeck

I thought I'd discuss a blog that my assistant at school has me addicted to. My assistant has many obsessions (don't get her started on her Congressman obsession). Most I don't understand, but this one I'm so glad she introduced me to!

The blog is called The Lettered Cottage. It's a blog on interior design, but most of their stuff they refurbish/redo to decorate a room. Layla and Kev are a friggin' adorable couple that create such beautiful rooms! You have to check them out!

They even have step by step instrutions on how to make things like the pictures below.

   

I love there stuff! They have such great ideas! I can only dream of having a blog like this. I wish I were THAT creative!

You have to check out one of their recent posts on a fall mantle. If you find these letters somewhere in the area, CALL ME IMMEDIATELY!!! I've been looking everywhere for them!


If you are into home design, this is definitely a blog you want to bookmark. You can also friend them on facebook! Happy decorating!!

"I'm so poor I can't even pay attention." -Ron Kittle

Is that not the truth these days! In this economy, everyone is looking to save a buck. Especially me!! As a single mom with a kid who's passion is horseback riding (not a cheap activity), I'm looking for any deal I can get!!!

I LOVE the show Extreme Couponing. However, I think those people are a little crazy. Buying diapers and having a stock pile of them in your basement when you have no babies, or even kids for that matter.... that borders on insanity a bit.

However, thanks to my amazing couponing coach Janet, I've done my own version of extreme couponing...a more realistic one. You know getting the things you actually need, maybe one or two extras.

So, my first attempt was at Rite Aid. I'll never forget the cashier's face. She didn't believe it was real. I got 4 bottles of Pantene which are normally $19.96 for a grand total of $2.12. For me this is a great deal because it's the only shampoo and the BEST conditioner for my daughter's hair.

The next deal I got was on Bayer aspirin. Again , this was at Rite Aid. Normally four bottles of Bayer is $17.96. My total was $0.00!!!!!! That was awesome! I walked out with such a high! :)

My third deal was on vinegar. If you are an avid Pinterester (yes, I made up that word), you use vinegar for EVERYTHING! From cooking to cleaning!! This was a Target deal. Normally $3.71, my total...FREE!!

This next one was my big whammy! A Target deal that I got because I happened to walk into Target on the right day! Items in the dollar isle were 70% off. So things that were normally $1 were only $0.30. Things that were normally $3.00 were $0.90. Now I will say I used  $20 gift card, but hey! Free is free for me! I don't even know what the grand total should have been, but I do know how much I spent on all of this stuff out of my pocket.... $3.71!! :-)

 

The last deal I've made so far, was literally yesterday at Rite Aid! Two bottles of Pantene and Carefree pantie liners normally a total of $11.98 for only $2.00!!!!

How do I get these deals??? I stalk two websites in particular...www.totallytarget.com and www.forthemommas.com. They explain the deals and give you the best up to date deals. These two sites are great, but there are SOOOOO many out there. I also save coupons each week from the Daily Local and Philly Inquire. I save them by date in a hanging file. (see below)

It's time consuming to look through, but always worth the deal!! Happy shopping!

“It's so beautifully arranged on the plate - you know someone's fingers have been all over it.” - Julia Child

OK, reading that quote made me a little sick to my stomach, but you have to admit, it's so true! Anyway, it's another good reason to stay home and cook things for your family!

I am not a cook. In fact, a friend of mine once gave me an Easy Bake Oven as a gift when I was in my 20s as a joke. But I've ventured into cooking over the last year. My poor daughter has been a victim of my Pinterest "Favorite Recipes" board lately. But I have discovered something. If you can read, you can cook!

So, I decided to search my pinterest board for something different to make. I thought I found the perfect recipe for my daughter that included her two favorite foods, tacos and pasta. I made TACO PASTA! It was so yummy!! It does have a little kick to it though. My daughter loved it at first, but could only eat about half of her meal because it just got too spicy for her. It's such a great quick and easy recipe. And it is a great warm meal for winter that will be here before we know it! I will make it again, but just not make it as spicy for my daughter.

When you make it, let me know what you think!

 

Taco Pasta

 

1 lb ground beef

8 oz. small dry pasta shapes

1 small onion

1 clove garlic, mined

1 cup salsa

1 packet taco seasoning

3 oz. cream cheese

1/2 cup sour cream

salt & pepper

shredded cheese for topping

 

 

Cook pasta and drain. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water. Set aside.

 

In a large skillet, cook beef and onion until no longer pink.

 

Drain excess fat and mix in garlic. Cook for about 30 seconds.

 

Mix in salsa & taco seasoning. Let simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes.

 

Stir in cooked pasta, cream cheese, sour cream, and pasta water. Stir until cream cheese is melted and sauce is well blended.

 

Season with salt & pepper to taste. Top with shredded cheese, more sour cream & salsa if desired. 

 

"The Rose Bowl is the only bowl I've ever seen that I didn't have to clean." ~Erma Bombeck

So, since I'm a Pinterest addict, I decided to try the things I keep posting. Mostly because I just post, and never really look at the link! So this will kinda help me see what's what! Since I'm only working part time this summer, I'm going to try to blog on a daily basis and let you know what's what with pinterest posts!!! Sundays will be my "Cleanliness" day! I figure I usually clean on Saturdays, so I will try something new then and post it on Sunday.

I LOVE to wash dishes ... SAID NO ONE EVER!!! I'd like to kiss the person who invented dishwashers!! But lately, I noticed my dishes were coming out of the dishwasher not so clean. I figured, because I'm so cheap (hey, us single parents have to budget hard sometimes) and was using cheap detergent, it must have been that. So I saved my pennies and bought a name brand detergent! Guess what? STILL the same filmy stuff was on my dishes coming out of the dishwasher. Here's what my dishes were looking like.

EWWWWWW... Do you see that white ring around the pot?!?! I think I just threw up a little in my mouth!

Yucky, yuck, yuck!!! More filmy stuff.

As divine intervention works, at the same time, I was pinning cleaning sites on pinterest and low and behold a "How to clean your dishwasher" post came up. I ACTUALLY read that one because I was having a problem!

The first thing I learned was that crap gets stuck in your dishwasher's filter thingy (that's a tehnical term). So I pulled out the bottom rack and got my head down in the dishwasher. I saw nothing. So I  started feeling around ... needless to say, got a different result. This is what I found...

That's right, two plastic spoons, a plastic knife, and a label off of something. Who knew?!

So I followed the blog instructions. I filled a dishwasher safe cup with plain white vinegar and ran it through a whole cycle as hot as it could go. Once that was was finished, I took the cup out and ran it again on the hottest water setting. So, after all that, I couldn't wait to load the dishwasher!! Here are the results....

 Look!!! No more yucky filmy stuff on my dishes!!

 NO RING AROUND THE POT!!!! (and no more throw up in my mouth)

Had to add this pic because it's actually sparkly! :)

So fellow pinterest addicts, and clean freaks :), this was a worthy pin! I have now added cleaning my dishwasher to my monthly chore list, so it gets cleaned once a month this way.

As my good friend Beth would probably say ... once you go clean, you never go back! She would be so proud of me! Happy cleaning!! :)

“The most terrible poverty is loneliness, and the feeling of being unloved.” - Mother Teresa

Today is one of those days. You single parents know what I'm talking about... those days where you just wish you could come home and have someone to talk to. Someone to release your frustrations with. For those of you with a significant someone, I hope you realize how lucky you are. You have someone to go home to and complain about your day, or share how great your day has been with. Someone who listens without judgement.

Today I need someone who would listen to me, and not judge me, and give me solid advice. Someone to just talk things out with. Usually, I can decide those important things on my own. I have to. But I sincerely miss those times when I can bounce ideas off of someone who loves me and understands my struggles. Someone who is invested in things as I am.

Ahhh single parent life.... some days are amazing. Others you wonder how you got here. Just have to remember how truly lucky I am with what I have....

"Never lend your car to anyone to whom you have given birth." - Erma Bombeck

I will have to remember this quote in about 8 years!! Especially the way my daughter trashes the back seat of the car. Sometimes my daughter is a hot mess, I don't know where she learned that from?! :) Anyway, her disaster area, also known as the backseat of my car, has lead me to my new blog! Organizing your car!!

Of course I forgot to take any "before" pictures, but it would have been too embarrassing to post any way. I started by cleaning every thing out, obviously. And I vacuumed EVERYTHING. I think it was the first time it was ever vacuumed, but my dad claims he vacuumed it one time! Then I got to organizing!!

In the back, my daughter had about a million little toys that she sticks in the side door storage, of which she misses half the time and the toys then hit the floor. Of course they then slide all over the car. Good times!

So I went to the dollar store and got a little plastic bin and put those toys in it. It fits perfectly under the passenger side front seat, so she can reach it easily. Also in the bin are pencils and pens so she can write in her car journal that's in the net storage on the back of the front seat. There is also a wipe board she likes to draw on.

I got a second bin that holds tissues, plastic grocery bags that we use for trash, and Shout Wipes that we keep in the car in case we need them. This container went under the driver's seat. Again, easy for her to reach and out of the way. As you guys can see, there is still plenty of room for feet!

I also found one of those caddies I've seen on Pinterest. I found it in the Target $1 area about a week or two ago. My daughter uses it for drinks and to hold any snacks. I LOOOOOOVVVEEEE this! Keeps the mess contained! Well except for whatever lands on her clothes! That is a whole other blog in itself!

The back seat is organized!!! And has stayed that way for a whole 4 days!!! It's a miracle, right?!

Next up was the front of the car. As much as I'd like to say I keep it clean, anyone who knows me, or has gotten a ride in my car, knows that it's not true. Usually, the poor passenger has to wait while I gather the school papers and study guides that my daughter and I review in the car, and the mail I pick up and never take in the house! So I found a foldable basket at the Christmas Tree Shoppe for about $6 or $7. I keep it folded and under the front passenger seat until I need it. It makes it so easy to take things in and out of the house, and easy to move so a passenger can actually sit there! Who knew?! A seat for sitting. What a concept!

The total cost of organizing my car was .... drum roll please.... $11!!! Well that's it. The end of my organize your car so you aren't embarrassed to give people a ride blog! Hope you enjoyed it. Please don't forget to leave me a message with your thoughts on the blog. And pass it on to your friends if you think they would be interested. Thanks! Until next time...